Pipe coupling with internal stop collar and elastomeric pipe separators interlocked therewith

Abstract

Elastomeric pipe separators (14) are interlocked with an internal stop collar (10a) of a pipe coupling (10) to enable pipes (16 and 18) to be inserted as far as they will readily go into the pipe coupling (10) and yet allow for thermal expansion of the pipes (16 and 18) without damage to the pipes (16 and 18) or coupling (10).

I claim: 
     
       1. A pipe coupling (10) comprising a generally cylindrical main body portion (10b) and an internal annular stop collar portion (10a), and a plurality of elastomeric pipe separators (14) separate from each other and initially separate from the stop collar portion (10a), the pipe separators (14) being interlockable with the stop collar portion (10a) in any desired arcuately spaced relationship with each other therealong. 
     
     
       2. A pipe coupling (10) comprising a generally cylindrical main body portion (10b) and an internal annular stop collar portion (10a) of generally trapezoidal cross section and having side surfaces (10c and 10d) diverging radially inwardly of the pipe coupling (10), and a plurality of elastomeric pipe separators (14) separate from each other and initially separate from the stop collar portion (10a), the pipe separators (14) being attachable to the stop collar portion (10a) in any desired arcuately spaced relationship with each other therealong, each pipe separator (14) having a groove (14c) of generally trapezoidal cross section and respective portions of the stop collar portion (10a) being receivable in the grooves (14c), the groove (14c) of each pipe separator (14) being partially defined by a pair of opposed gripping surfaces (14k and 14m) for respectively gripping the side surfaces (10c and 10d) of the stop collar portion (10a). 
     
     
       3. A pipe coupling (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of the elastomeric pipe separators (14) has a pair of opposed side surfaces (14a and 14b) converging radially inwardly of the pipe coupling (10).